Pitting machine



y 1941. E. w. CARROLL FITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 m. 88 NW\ INVENTOR.

ELLSWORTH W. CARROLL.

f ATTORNEYS.

y 1941 E. w. CARROLL 7 2,243,246

PITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ELLSWORTH M. CARROLL.

BY 74% W ATTORNEYS.

y 1941- E. w. CARROLL 2,243,246

FITTING MACHINE Filed 001;. 19, 193s e Sheets-Sheet s Q 6 INVENTORT ELLSWORTH n. CARROLL.

JVM ATTORNEYS.

May 27, 1941. E. w. CARROLL FITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 w 7 .N//| L O 2 Z 7 6 5 6 4 O 6 a 46 m O INVENTOR,

H a a n m M 0 m W T M w y H8 3 M .I M 3 a May 27, 1941. E. w. CARROLL FITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1938 s Sheqts-S h eet 5 INVENTOR, E LLS WORTH W CARROLL.

I W W ATTORNEYS. I

May 27, 1941. E. w. CARROLL FITTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR, ELLSWORTH w. CARROLL.

A TTORNEYS.

i l 7,4 TIIIIIA u 'IIIIIII. i

Patented May 27, 1941 r 2,243,240 rrrrnve mcmm:

Ellsworth W. Carroll, San Francisco,

signor to S & W Fine Foods, 1110., Calil'., a corporation of California OaliL, as- San Francisco,

' Application Octobcr 19, 1938. Serial No. 235,810 21 Claims. (01. 146-19) My invention relates to machines for the pitting of fruit, more particularly to inspection and sorting mechanism for such machines.

The invention although-of general application relates in the Present disclosure to a pitting machine for cherries wherein the fruit to be pitted is dumped into a hopper from which] it is conveyed individually to pitting mechanism to be operated upon to remove the pit therefrom.

Th pitting mechanism of the machine in connection with which my invention-is to be described, comprises a battery of simultaneously reciprocating. pitting tools having a generally vertical reciprocatory movement and a simultaneous oscillatory movement substantially normal thereto. The oscillatory component of movement of the pitting tools includes a movement in the direction of travel of the conveyor mechanism, such movement occurring during the cooperation of the tools and conveyor during pitting, thus enabling continuous, uninterrupted travel of the conveyor which carries the fruit from the hopper to pitting position below the pitting tools.

Each pitting tool reciprocates through a stripper plate which is always maintained in alinement with such tool, and upon withdrawal of the pitting tool to its initial starting position following a pitting stroke, the pitted fruit is stripped therefrom by the stripper plate and permitted to roll from the end of'the conveyor mechanism under guidance of a baflie into a suitable receptacle.

By reason of the fact that all fruit of a certain kind, such as cherries, for example, invariably are non-uniform as to size and shape, and the pits therein maynot be located centrally thereof, it occasionally happens that a pitting tool will not engage a pit symmetrically and may either chip the pit o r'may fail entirely to eject the pit from the fruit. In the machine such as briefiydescribed above, such fruit, nevertheless is discharged into the same receptacle which receives the successfully pitted fruit.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to improve upon a machine of the above type in such a manner as to segregate unpitted fruit from the pitted product of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which shall with great certainty pro vide a pitted product entirely free of unpitted fruit.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine wherein the unsuccessfully pitted fruit will be segregated from the successfully pitted fruit in response to the results encountered in the pitting of such fruit. 1 Another object of the invention is to provide an improved pitting machine which shall not only segregate unsuccessfully pitted fruit from the pitted fruit, but shall also dispose of the pits extracted from the fruit, in such manner as to preclude the possibility of such pits from being discarded into the receptacle for catching the pitted fruit.

Additional objects of the above invention will be brought out in the following description of the same taken in conjunction panying drawings wherein:

Fig.1 is a front end view of a machine em bodying my invention.

' Fig. 2 is a. side elevational view of the improved portion of the machine, partly in section, disclosing the invention and its relationship to the pitting mechanism, and showing elements of the invention as they appear following a successful pitting operation.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section taken in the planes 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view partly the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section looking in the direction 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view taken along the line of 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the pertinent elements of Fig. 2 in the position occupied following an unsuccessful pitting operation.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of fruit snatching mechain section taken along nism, comprising an important feature of the.

present invention.

Fig. 91s a view partly insection taken approxi mately along the line 9-9 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a view in section taken along the line Iii-Iii of Fig. 5.

Fig.11 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but somewhat modified.

Fig. 12 is a view looking in the direction of line l2-l2 of Fig. 11.

The above figures of the drawings are substantially to scale.

In general the invention involves the provision of a pair of alternative discharge routes for the product of the machine, and means responsive to the success or failure of a pitting operation, for determining which of the alternative dis-- charge routes shall be open to the fruit operated upon by the pitting mechanism at the time.

More specifically, the discharge routes are controlled by a trap door which, during successful with the accompitting operations, is maintained in a position, exposing one of the alternative routes to the pitted product of the machine. Thus all of the successfully pitted fruit will follow this route. Upon failure of a pitting operation to eject a pit from a fruit, the trap door is caused to fly open, blocking the normally open discharge route, and exposing the alternative discharge route to the passage of such fruit as has not been pitted, and thus guiding the same to a separate receptacle provided for the purpose. The mechanism for accomplishing such separation of the pitted from the unpitted fruit is rather complex and a detailed description of the. same follows, reference being made to the drawings for a clear understanding of the same.

The drawings take in only that portion of the machine involving the pitting mechanism and the improvements applied in connection therewith, constituting the subject matter of the present invention.

Inasmuch as the end of th machine at which the hopper is located in no way pertinent to the present invention, no attempt has been made to either disclose or describe that portion of the machine.

In Fig. 1, I have disclosed the front end of the machine at which the fruit is pitted and discharged into receptacles (not shown) placed below the machine, and in a position to catch the fruit as it is discharged.

Th pitting mechanism comprises a orosshead l, extending transversely of the machine and supporting a number of depending pitting tools 3 at either end thereof, the crosshead being mounted on a pair of reciprocating uprights 5 extending from a housing I located on the longitudinal axis of the machine, thus enabling the pitting tools 3 to be reciprocated in unison by reciprocating mechanism located in the housing.

Such mechanism has not been disclosed in that its construction is not pertinent or necessary to a complete and clear understanding of the present invention, but forms the subject matter of Patent No. 2,092,956 dated September 14, 1937, for a Fruit pitter in which I appear as one of joint inventors. The mechanism is of such character as to impart to the pitting tools the reciprocating motion previously described, and the simultaneous oscillatory component of movement which enables continuous uninterrupted feeding of fruit to a position below each of the pitting tools 3 by the conveyor mechanism 9.

The power for operating the pitting mechanism is derived from an electric motor ll supported on a bracket l3 mounted on the front end of the framework l5 of the machine to the front of the housing 1. The motor is chain connected through a drive shaft sprocket I! to a main drive shaft I9 on which is mounted a pinion 2|, and this pinion in turn meshes with a speed reduction gear 23 located in the hou'sing 1 on an auxiliary shaft 25 extending through the housing I and beyond both sides thereof. In imparting the oscillatory component of movement to the pitting tool assembly, the pitting tool assembly is oscillated about this auxiliary shaft 25.

Supported just below the pitting tools 3 on either side of the housing I is a stripper plate supporting channel 21 having openings 29 therethrough in alinement with the pitting tools 3 with which it is associated. Across these openings are affixed stripper plates 3|, each having perforations 33 therethrough, the perforations appearing beneath each opening 29, conforming with the cross-section of the pitting tool 3 above it, thus enabling clear passage of the pitting tool therethrough with but very little clearance.

The stripper plate supporting channels 21 are each an integral part of like brackets 35 which pivot about the auxiliary shaft 25. These stripper plate channels are maintained in permanent alinement with the reciprocating pitting tools 3, by a pair of guide members 31, one for each bracket. end to the pitting tool cross arm I and is reciprocally fitted in a member 38 pivoted on the auxiliary shaft alongside the housing I and affixed to the adjacent bracket 25, carrying a stripper plate channel 21. The stripper plates 3| are thus caused to oscillate in unison with the pitting tools 3 about the auxiliary shaft 25 and will thereby always be maintained in alinement with the pitting tools 3.

The fruit to be pitted is conveyed individually to a position beneath one or the other of the pitting tools by the conveyor 9 including a plurality of conveyor chains 39 equal in number to the number of pitting tools 3 with which the machine is provided. Each conveyor chain includes a plurality of links, the alternate links of which carry rubber cups 4| having perforated flexible bottoms 43, each cup being of a size designed to carry an individual fruit. The chains are positioned side by side in accordance with the lateral spacing of the pitting tools 3 and are simultaneously driven from sprockets 45, one on either side of the housing 1, and mounted on the ends of the auxiliary shaft 25 extending beyond either side of the housing I.

The conveyor chains are driven at a continuous and. uniform speed through engagement with the sprocket teeth 41, at a rate such that successive conveyor cups 4| on the chains will arrive in unison beneath the pitting tools during successive pitting strokes of such tools. Upon arriving in such position and without interruption to their movement, the pitting tools descend simultaneously and each enters the fruit carried by the cup below it, forcing the pit out of the fruit and through the perforation in the flexible bottom of the conveyor cup which carries the fruit. Upon completion of the pitting stroke, the tools are withdrawn and returned to their initial starting position in preparation for the following pitting stroke, which is timed to occur with the arrival of the next arriving conveyor cups below the pitting tools. During the return movement of the pitting tools 3, the fruit which will invariably adhere to the pitting tools, is stripped therefrom, upon coming in contact with tthe stripped plates 3|, and prior to the application of my invention to such a machine, such fruit would be. permitted to drop and roll from the end of the conveyor, into a receptacle suitably placed for catching such fruit. The pits which hav previously been ejected from the fruit and forced through the perforated bottom of the conveyor cup would, prior to my invention, be permitted to drop with in the conveyor sprockets and conducted out through the open end thereof. It will be apparent, therefore, that in the event the fruit for some reason or other were not successfully pitted, such fruit would nevertheless be discharged into the same receptacle with the successfully pitted fruit and retained as part of the product of the machine.

In accordance with my invention, I individually control the output of each pitting tool 3 and cooperating conveyor chain by providing alternate Each guide member 31 is bolted at one discharge routes for the fruit operated on by each pitting tool. Such alternate routes are located at the end of each conveyor chain in line therewith and are controlled through the operation of a trap door 49, which is normally maintained in one position against a baiile 50, so long as the pitting operations of its associated pitting tool are successful in electing the pits from the fruit being operated upon.

Upon failure of such pitting tool to successfully remove the pit from any individual fruit, the trap door in line therewith is caused to spring open, and such trap door response is so timed as to cause the unsuccessfully pitted fruit to take the alternate discharge route to a separate receptacle placed at the discharge end of such route for such purpose.

The machine disclosed in Fig. 1 being pro- I vided with similar pitting and conveying nechanisms on either side of the housing, all further description will be directed to the invention, in connection with the mechanism on one side of the machine, it being'understood that the construction of the machine, being similar on the other side of the housing, the invention is applied thereto in like manner.

Inasmuch as the success or failure of one pitting tool to eject the pit from an individual fruit will be independent of. the success or failure of the pitting operation of the other pitting tools, it is essential that the trap doors 49 be capable of operation independently of each other and should be individually responsive to the results of its associated pitting tool. At the same time it is desirable that they be pivoted on the same axis. In order to support these trap doors on the same axis and at the same time realize independence of control of operation, the trap doors are mounted on concentric shafts 5|, 58, 55, 51 etc., the number being determined by the number of trap doors, which in turn depends upon the number of pitting tools and conveyor chains carried by the machine. The shaft 5| of smallest diameter is made longer than the others and has one end thereof anchored to the side wall of the housing 1. Each of the successively larger diameter shafts 53, 55 and exposes suiiicient of the shaft of next smaller diameter to provide space for attachment of one of the trap doors, a trap door also being affixed to the shaft 51 of largest diameter in the machine as illustrated. These concentric shafts extend into and are journaled for support in a housing 59 afilxed to the side of the machine, in which housing is located a plurality of similar latching assemblies 5| individually associated with the shafts to which the trap door are connected. These latching assemblies in the housing 59 control the independent operation of the trap doors 49 in response to the results of the pitting operations of the respective pitting tools 3 with which the trap doors are in alinement.

To obtain a clear understanding of the manner in which the trap doors are controlled, it will now be desirable to refer back to the sprocket 45 .which drives the conveyor 9, and describe its construction and that of associated apparatus, and the manner in which it ties in with the latching assemblies 5| in the housing 59 to control the operation of these trap doors 49.

The sprocket 45 is a hollow drumshaped member having a plurality of rows of sprocket teeth 41 previously indicated, the number of rows agreeing in number with the number of pitting tools 3 and conveyor chains 39 on the machine.

shaft 93 In cross section the sprocket is polygonal in shape, the spacing between the teeth being sumcient to receive the alternate links of each chain which carry the conveyor cups 4|. At those points on the sprocket which engage the cup carrying links, the sprocket is provided with openings 53 therethrough in which are fitted cylindrical inserts -having one end flush with the outer or chain contacting surface of the sprocket, and the other end extending a short distance beyond the inner surface of the sprocket. This inner extended portion of each of the inserts I5 is formed with a plurality of slots 81 in the direction of rotation of the sprocket.

The sprocket 45 is closed at one end, at which end, it is provided with an inwardly directed hollow shank 59 to receive an end of the auxiliary shaft 25 for mounting the sprocket thereon. The sprocket thus is operated through the auxiliary shaft 25 and rotates in accordance therewith.

Within the sprocket, there is mounted a stationary cylinder 1|. with a partition wall 13 which has a central opening therethrough enabling it to slidably fit over a sleeve bearing 15 carried by the inwardly directed hollow shank 59 of the sprocket and such partition constitutes the mounting support for one end of this stationary cylinder 1|, enabling it to remain stationary while the sprocket 45 is permitted to rotate. The bearing 15 overhangs the end of the inwardly directed hollow shank 59 to receive a flanged bushing 11 which is fixed in engagement against the cylinder partition 13 by a'shaft extension 19 having a reduced end portion 8| passing through the bushing 11 and threaded to the end of the auxiliary shaft 25. The other end of the stationary cylinder 1| is rigidly supported by a ring or collar clamp 83 spaced from the open end of the sprocket 45 and afilxed to a stationary part of the machine such as the housing 59.

A depending bearing 55 at the ring clamped end of the cylinder 1| and the partition wall 18 together provide bearing means for supporting a plurality of concentric shafts 81, 89, 9|, 99, corresponding in number and position to the aforementioned concentric shafts 5|, 53, 55 and 51 on which the trap .doors 49 were previously described as being individually aflixed. Each of these concentric shafts has aflixed thereto a pivot arm 95 to the end of each of which is attached a plurality of the rotatable discs 91 equal in number to the number of slots 51 formed in the end of each of the cylindrical inserts 55 and spaced accordingly. 1

Such pivot arms'95 and discs 91 are positioned on their respective shafts so that the discs will be in line with the slots 51 in the ends of the aforementioned inserts 55, and the stationary cylinder 1| is formed with openings 99 therethrough, providing exits through which the discs 91 might swing or oscillate.

The concentric shafts 81, 89, 9| and 93 extend beyond the open end of the sprocket 45, the of largest diameter extending but a short distance, and each shaft of next smaller diameter extending a greater distance for attachment of a link to each of the shafts 81, 89. 9| and 93 to enable angular movement of the shafts independently of each other. Each link |0| is pivotally connected by another link I03, extending into the housing 59 through an opening H15 in the rear wall I81 thereof, to a trip link ||l9 which in turn is pivotally connected to the cross member of a pair of interconnected This cylinder is provided.

wall of the housing about the cross member III I as the axis of rotation. When the effect of this weighted off-set is traced back through the connecting links to the rotatable discs 91 associated therewith, it will be noted that the weighted oil'- set acting through these link connections will continually urge the discs outwardly in the direction of the sprocket 45, and consequently such discs will roll against the inner surface of the sprocket in response to rotation of the sprocket. The forward movement of the trip links I09 will therefore be limited in the normal course of events by the inner surface of the sprocket while in abutment thereagainst, except under certain conditions to be explained, when the openings 63 in the sprocket arrive in alinement with the discs.

A rectangular shaped yoke I 23, spans the interconnected parallel links 3 which in turn rest on a roller I carried between the side members of the yoke. The yoke I23 is fixedly attached to a shaft I21 which extends across the front end of the machine and through the lower portion of the housing 59. The yoke is adjusted at an angle with respect to the vertical, whereby when the shaft to which it is fixed, is rotated through a small angle in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, the interconnected links I I3 will be raised through a small angle and such movement of the links II3 will in turn lift all the trip links I09 simultaneously through a short distance. The shaft I21 is periodically oscillated through such an angle in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the position of the yoke indicated in Fig. 2, by a cam arrangement.

The cam constitutes a fork-like member I29 with an internal cam surface I3I and a lever arm I33 for connection to the shaft I21, the cam surface I3I bearing against a cam follower I35 mounted on a side of the chain drive gear I1 of the main drive shaft I9 but off-center with respect to said shaft. For each revolutionof the main drive shaft, therefore, the yoke will define one oscillation in response to the cam action and consequently will lift the trip links I09 once during each rotation of the main drive shaft and permitting them to drop back to their original position between lifts.

The cam is freely connected to the shaft I21 but is restrained against pivotal movement with respect thereto by an adjustable restraining member I31 fixed to the shaft I21 by a set screw I39 and adaptable through manipulation of additional set screws HI and I43 adjustabiy mounted on integral overhanging extensions I45 and I41, to vary the angular position of the cam lever I33 with respect to the yoke I 23 for obtaining a proper degree of movement of the respective elements whose movement is controlled by cam I29.

From a glance at Figs, 1 and 2, it will be noted that while the yoke I23 is mounted on that portion of the shaft I21 extending through the housing, the cam I29 which determines the oscillatory movement of the shaft I21 is positioned adjacent the drive connection from the motor I I to the main drive shaft I9.

During oscillatory movement of the yoke I23, the free end portion I49 will periodically strike against depending reset arms I5I of a plurality of latch elements I 53, with sufficient force to overcome the opposing force of a coil spring I for each latch element, anchored in the front wall of the housing and exerting pressure against the depending reset arms. Each of such latch elements is fixedly connected or clamped to one of the concentric shafts 5I, 53, 55 and 51 to which the trap doors 49 are connected. These concentric shafts extend into the housing 59 in the same order and same manner 'as the concentric shafts 81, 89, 9| and 93, extending from within the sprocket 45. Thus, the exposed portions of the concentric shafts SI, 53, 55 and 51 provide space for attachment of the aforementioned latch elements I53 thereto, thereby enabling individual oscillation of the concentric shafts 5|, 53, 55 and 51 through operation of individual latch elements I53. Each of the latch elements has a latch arm I51 which in latching position, engages the holding end I59 of a bell crank I5I pivoted on a shaft I63 journaled in the wall H1 and cover 9 of the housing 59 above an associated trip link I09, a latching element I53 being thus held against the unlatching force of a spring I55 which had previously been compressed by the action of the yoke I23 in striking the arm I5I of the latching element to swing the latching element I53 into latching position. The other arm I65 of each bell crank I6I occupies a position to the front of an associated trip link I09 and just out of reach thereof.

Each of the latching elements I53 is provided with an adjustable stop I61 in the front wall of the housing 59 and inasmuch as each latching element is connected through one of the concen tric shafts 5I, 53, 55 or 59 with one of the trap doors 49, it will become apparent that through adjustment of its associated adjustable stop I63, the angle through which a trap door may be sprung upon unlatching a latching member, can be controlled.

Before proceeding further with the description of. the apparatus involved in the present invention, it might be well to. summarize the operation of the latching mechanism just described.

As previously stated, due to the weighted trip links I09 acting through links I03, IOI etc., the rotatable discs 91 will normally bear against the inner surface of the rotating sprocket 45, passage through the inner extending ends of cylindrical inserts 05 being permitted by the slots 61 formed therein. Upon engaging such inserts, the rollers will be urged into the openings provided through the sprocket 45, by the weighted arms I2I of the trip links I 09. Inasmuch as the forward movement of the trip links was previously restricted by the engagement of the rotatable discs against the inner surface of the sprocket, the added freedom offered to movement of the discs by the openings through the sprocket will permit the weighted trip links to drop forward through a slight angle, bringing the upper end of such trip links beneath the adjacent arms I65 of the bell cranks IBI. It will be recalled that the trip links I09 are continually being oscillated in a vertical direction by the cam I29 acting through the yoke I23 and the interconnected parallel links I I3, and consequently when the trip links dlrop forward so that their upper ends are beneath their associated bell cranks, the simultaneous upward movement of the trip links will cause them to'strike the bell cranks and trip the subsequent to the pitting operation, removes such fruit from the cups 4| and the pitting tools 3, and

.drops them at the proper momentinto the distinued rotationof the sprocket will bring the ro- 1 tatable discs again in contact with the inner surface thereof and re-establish the trip links in their original positions. In the meantime the cam I29 causes the yoke I23 to strike the latch arms I5I and reset all the latching mechanisms and trap doors until the discs encounter the succeeding opening through the sprocket 45.

Simultaneous operation of all the latch. mechanisms, as just described, will occur during operating of the machine in the absence of any fruit being fed to the pitting apparatus. By reason of the construction of the latching mechanisms however, they are capable of operation independently of each other, and such independent operation does occur in response to the results of the pitting operations of the individual pitting tools, when fruit is fed to the pitting apparatus. For example, it will be apparent that as long as the rotatable discs are not permitted to swing into any one of the openings provided through the sprocket, during rotation of the sprocket, each latching mechanism will be maintained in its latched condition, by reason of the fact that its trip link I09 will never be permitted to drop forward and strike the bell crank lever above it during one of its upward stroke movements. During the normal course of events, as

long as fruit is being successfully pitted, this condition obtains, since a pit during each pitting stroke, will be forced by the pitting tool through the perforation in the flexible bottom of the rubber cup into the opening through the sprocket. The presence of such a pit in an opening, will serve to preclude the rollers from swinging into such opening and consequently will preclude the v trip link from swinging forward and tripping the sprocket brings the discs into alinement with the opening.

For successful operation of the apparatus thus far described, onecannot depend upon the fruit reaching the discharge route at the proper time, if it bev permitted to roll. due to. the gravity, from the end of the conveyor mechanismas had.- previously been the practice, prior to. my invention. Its arrival at a trap door 49 must be timed with respect to the probable operation of such trap door. .Otherwise its arrival might occur too soon or too late with respect toan operation of the trap door and such fruit might be discharged along the wrong discharge route.

To obtain proper timed arrival of the fruit for discharge to the desired route, depending upon whether such fruit has been successfully or unsuccessfully pitted, I have provided a fruit snatching mechanism I1I, which grasps the fruit charge routes provided therefor by the operation of the trap doors 49. v

The snatching mechanism comprises a bar I13 extending across the front of the machine at approximately the level'of the conveyor chains 39,-

and supported on-apair of pivot arms I15 which are pivoted at points I11 on the frame below the main drive shaft I9. One of the pivot arms is provided at an intermediate point with a cam follower I19 which is maintained against the .surface of a circular cam I BI eccentrically mounted on the main drive shaft I9 adjacent the main drive shaft sprocket I1. 1

This cam arrangement will produce an angular oscillatory movement of the cross-bar I13 .in a direction toward and away from the pitting apparatus. I Y

Pivotally connected to the cross arm I13 is a plate I93 on which are mounted a plurality of snatchers I85, one for each pitting tool and supported in line therewith. Each of the snatchers comprises a pair of opposed clamping members I01 pivoted'at one end I89 to the plate I83 and extending in the direction of a pitting tool. Each of the clamping members at the fruit engaging end is provided with a fruit engaging jaw formed by an arcuate shaped end I9I having integrally upturned and downturned tabs I 93, the clamping members being biased toward each other into clamping position by a U-shaped spring I95 having its ends anchored at approximately the midpoint of the clamping members. A pair of links I91 each pivotally anchored at one end to one of the clamping members of a snatcher at an intermediate point thereon, are at their other ends pivotally connected together at an angle by a pin I99, one end of which extends into a guide slot 20I in the plate I83, while the other end extends above the snatcher. Such construction provides toggle action for spreading the clamping members of a snatcher against the action of the spring I95 and maintaining such snatcher in open position.

The snatcher assembly comprising the snatchers I and mounting plate I83'is supported in operating position by a guide wire 203 attached to the plate I83 at one end thereof and resting in a slotted guide 205 attached to the stripper plate channel 21. The dimensions of the snatcher mechanism are such that during the forward movement of the mechanism, the fruit engaging end of each snatcher, will extend to the position occupied by a fruit at the completion of a pittingoperation, and upon return movement, the fruit engaging end of each snatcher will come to a halt above one of the trap doors 49. The

guide wire 203 which supports the snatcher assembly in operating position is bent so as to cause the snatchers I85 to execute'a desired approach in preparation to picking up pitted fruit following a pitting operation, the snatchers approach ing the fruit with Jaws open as indicated in Fig. 8. I

In order to cause the snatchers to open and close at .the proper moments, the forward edge of the stripper plate channel is provided with a plurality of abutments 201, in line with the up-' wardly extending pivot pins I99 of the snatchers. The forward approach of the snatchers I85 to ward the fruit, as determined by the guide wire 203, is such that the pivot pins I99 will strike against the abutments 201, after the open jaws of the snatchei's have encircled the fruit. The abutment of the pins against the abutments brings about operation of the toggle mechanisms of the snatchers, permitting the springs I95 associated therewith to close the snatchers upon the fruit. The fruit is accordingly thus engaged by the snatchers, permitting withdrawal of the pitting tools therefrom, and such fruit is withdrawn on the return movement of the snatcher assembly to a position above the trap doors as previously indicated. The snatchers, thus, not only serve to remove the fruit and deposit the same at uniform time intervals, but take on the function of the stripper plates in permitting withdrawal of the pitting tools from the fruit. The stripper plates however, may be retained as a safety measure to assure removal of fruit from the pitting tools in the event that a snatcher should fail to successfully grasp an item of fruit which it goes after. a

Upon approaching the fruit discharge position, the pivot pins I99 are caused to strike against a release bar 209 which is attached at one end to the-upper surface of the housing 59 and extends across the snatcher assembly in spaced relationship thereto. The striking of the pivot pins against this release bar upon the return movement. of the snatcher assembly, flips the toggle mechanism of each snatcher, causing each snatcher to open up againstthe action of its spring, thereby releasing such fruit as may be held between the jaws of such snatcher. The

'fruit accordingly, will drop .into such discharge route as has been exposed by operation of the trap doors immediately below.

In the meantime, the pits as theyare ejected from the fruit during pitting operations, are carried along with the movement of the sprocket 45 until an opening in which one may have been deposited, arrives in alinement with an opening 2| I through the stationary cylinder II, at which point pit expelling mechanism 2I3, located with in the cylinder H, functions to expel'the pit from the cylindrical insert 65 which houses it.

Such pit expelling mechanism embodies a plurality of ejector elements 2l5, one for each circular row of sprocket openings 53. These elements are pivotally supported on shafts 2|! and US which are crank operated through a chain of gears housed within a groove 22l'formed in edge of the partition I3 and meshing with an internal ring gear 223 located within the sprocket 45 in the median plane of the partition 13. The cranks 225 and 221 which operate these ejector members 2l5 are located one on each side of the partition I3 and are fixed to a drive shaft 229 extending therethrough, on which is located the flnal gear 23I' of the gear train. The shaft 2" spans the majority of the openings in the sprocket in the machine illustrated due to the location of the partition 13 ,toward the closed end of the sprocket 45 and such shaft finds 'additionalsupport by having itsother end anchored in a similar crank233 which is pivoted in a bearing 235 adjacent the open end of the stationary cylinder II. The gear train which controls operationof the ejectors, include not only the final gear or pinion 23l on the crankshaft 229, and a gear 231 which meshes with the ring gear 223, but also an immediate idler reversing gear or pinion 239 which effects rotation of the crank shaft pinion 23! in such direction that the cranking movement will cause the ejector members 2l5 toswing along in the direction of movement of the sprocket 45 during the ejection stroke of the elements M5. The openings 2 in-the stationary cylinder through which the ejectors operate are made sufliciently long in a circumferential direction as to enable this swing movement of the ejectors in synchronism with the movement of the sprocket. Each of the ejector members on the longer shaft 2" is guided in its ejector stroke by being provided with a guide in the form of a slotted tail portion 24!, which spans the extension 19 to the auxiliary shaft 25, and rides thereon. The ejector member located on the shorter shaft 2l9 is provided with a similar slotted guide portion 243 having awider span to engage the sleeve bearing 15 provided on the end of the auxiliary shaft 25, which is of greater diameter than the shaft extension 19 previously referred to.

Inasmuch as the pits expelled from the fruit are apt to be quite sticky and adhere to the ejector members, I provide a flipping or wiping device for each ejector member which functions to remove the pits from the ends of such ejector members when each ejector has approached the limit of its ejection stroke. Such wiper device comprises a strip 245 of flexible material such as rubber, leather or the like resiliently maintained against the sprocket surface, with the resilient wiping element contacting the sprocket surface at approximately the location where its associated ejector member functions.' The wiping action occurs during that portion of the ejector travel, when such ejector is moving in the direction of movement of the sprocket concurrently with the completion' of its ejection stroke.

It will be noted that the resilient wiping element 245 is flexed during passage of the sprocket teeth 41 thereby and upon such a tooth arriving at a point beyond reach of the wiping element, the wiping element due to its being previously flexed, will snap back to normal position and in so doing will flick such pit from the end of the ejector element as may adhere thereto. The pits thus ejected will either fall to the floor or ride the sprocket contacting surface of the conveyor chains 39. Those that ride the chains are subsequently guided off the chains by a blade 24'! obliquely disposed across the chains in the path of movement of the pits.

For proper operation of the invention, proper coordination and synchronization must be maintained among the various operating mechanisms embodied in the invention. There must be proper coordination forexample, between the movements of the pitting tools 3, the rotation of the sprocket 45, the, movement of the snatching mechanism III, the operation of the trap doors 49 and the operation of the ejector mechanism 2| 3. The proper timing and coordination among the various mechanisms referred to will now be emphasized in connection with the drawings to which reference will be made.

In Fig. 6, a fruit carrying cup 4| is shown as having arrived beneath a pitting tool 3, and the particular pitting tool at the moment is begin ning its downward pitting stroke. mechanism associated therewith is in its latched condition as indicated in Fig. 2, in which condition the trap door 49 controlled thereby will be closed against the baflle plate 59. The sprocket 45 is moving in a clock-wise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, and following a successful pitting operation, a pit will be ejected into the opening 93 in the sprocket beneath the fruit carrying cup 4|. Due to the clock-wise movement of The latching the sprocket, the pit will be carriedin the direction of the discs 91 and will be retained in the opening 63 until reaching the discs, by the tail formation I 69 of the lever 95 which supports those discs. Upon passing over the discs, the discs will be prevented from swinging into the opening by the presence of the pit and accordingly will remain more or less stationary in the position indicated in Fig. 6.

Consequently the trip link I09 to which the discs 91 are linked will remain in the position indicated in Fig. 2, but in a state of vertical oscillation due to the action of the cam I29, and no tripping of the latch mechanism will occur. Therefore, the trap door 49 will remain in its closed position against the bailie 50.

In the meantime the snatcher mechanism I'll will have moved forward and a snatcher device I85 will have closed upon the fruit-which has just been successfully pitted. Withdrawal of the pitting tool 3 occurs simultaneously therewith, and the pitted fruit I5 carried to a position above the trap door 49 and released. Due to the fact that the trap door has remained closed against the baflle 50, the pitted fruit will take a discharge path provided by the trap door, which acts as an incline, and accordingly will roll down such incline and drop into a suitable receptacle provided to catch the same.

Now let us assume that the fruit which has been operated on by the pitting tool has not been successfully pitted. In such case, no pit will be ejected into the opening beneath the fruit carrying cup 4I. Upon moving into alignment with the disc 91, the discs will have free access to the opening and will thus permit free forward or tipping movement of the trip link I09 through a small angle, sumcient to bring the upper end of the trip link below the arm I65 of the bell crank I6I of the latching mechanism. The trip link it will be recalled, is maintained in constant vertical oscillation. Thus the vertical movement of the trip link will cause the trip link to strike the arm I65 of the bell crank I6I and release the latching member I53, as indicated in Fig. 7, causing the trap door 49 associated with that particular latching member to fly open and expose a discharge route between such trap door and the bafiie 59. In the meantime the snatcher mechanism will have removed the fruit in the same manner and to the same position as previously indicated, at which point the fruit is released. The timing is such that the snatcher mechanism reaches the point of release following the operation of the latching mechanism. Consequently, when the fruit is released, it will take thatdischarge path provided by the operation of the trap door, whereupon the fruit will drop between the baiiie 59 and the trap door 49 into an independent receptacle provided for receiving such unpitted fruit.

Following the tripping of the latch mechanism, the latch mechanism will be reset through the operation of the cam operated yoke I23, which strikes the latching member I53, thus restoring the trap door 49 to its normally'niaintaine posig tion against the baflie 50. The reduction ratio between .-th main"drive shaft pinion 2I and the aiix-iiia shaftflgear 23 is in proportion to thenum l fto pitt n Strokes per rotationof the sproc et".45:o canxbe considered as proportional. tofthe of openings 63 in a circulai fow ab ,h'e sprocket. This ratiois maintained. so that :thereset mechanism strikes a11 ,the"latc'hj elements once for '7 every pitting stroke, thereby resetting those which may have been previously unlatched. The cam is adjusted to bring about such resetoperation immediately following the release of fruit by the snatchers and in time to restore the apparatus for the following pitting operation.

The modified apparatus of Figs. 11 and 12 is similar to that of Fig. 2 and has many elements in common therewith which in the drawings, have been designated by similar reference numerals. This embodiment however has been simplified considerably without impairing the ability of the machine to perform all the functions attributed to the construction of Fig. 2'

previously described. v

In one minor respect a simplification has been accomplished in the cam mechanism for operating the yoke I23. In lieu of employing a forked cam such as cam I29 of Fig. 2, and controlling its movement by a cam follower attached to the main drive shaft sprocket I1, the cam and cam follower elements are in effect reversed, enabling the elimination of the forked cam I29 of Fig. 2. The cam follower in the construction of Fig. 11 is affixed to the member 249 correspond-ing to the lever arm I33 of Fig. 2, which member is spring biased to bring the cam follower 2'5I into contact with the surface of a simple cam 253 keyed to the main drive shaft.

The major change from the construction of Fig. 2 however, resides in the complete elimination of the snatcher mechanism, the function of which is taken care of in a very simplified manner through timed operation of an air blast, which at the proper moment blows the fruit into the proper discharge route which has been opened thereto. To obtain such timed controlled air blasts, a pipe 255 is supported along and just below the rear edge 251 of the stripper plate mounting channel 21, this pipe being provided with perforations 259 in line with the conveyor chains 39 or the discharge routes as controlled by the trap doors 49. A pipe of this character is similarly mounted on the stripper plate channel for the other half of the machine, these pipes being joined in a yoke 26I over the housing I, at which point, they are connected by a flexible hose 263 through a valve 265 to a source of compressed air (not shown) which may be either a tank of compressed air or a pump. The air blasts occur during the withdrawal of the pitting tools 3 and at the precise moment when the fruit, which will have adhered to the pitting tools, is stripped therefrom by the passage of.

the pitting tools through the stripping plates 3I. Such timing of the air blasts is controlled by a cam arrangement involving a valve operating lever 261 which is pivoted at one end to the frame of the machine and adapted in the course of its movement to strike the valve 265 and release air through the perforations 259. The valve operating lever is provided with a cam follower 269 at an intermediate point thereof, which is maintained against a cam 21I mounted on the main drive shaft I9, through the action of a biasing spring 21-3. The cam arrangement is so adjusted that at the moment when the fruit has been stripped from the pitting tools 3, the cam 21I will drive the valve operating lever 261 against the valve 265 and release the air. To assure that the air blasts will direct the fruit in the proper paths, the trap doors are provided with side guards 215 which will serve to better define the discharge routes and guide the fruit during discharge.

Aside from the above noted changes tending toward a simplified construction, the apparatus of Fig.-11 is similar to that of Fig. 2. It will be apparent that in both cases the apparatus is intended to perform the same functions and fulfill the same Objects.

It will become apparent from the above detailed description of the invention that the trap doors are normally maintained in the position defining discharge routes for the successfully pitted fruit, and that the latch mechanisms are made responsive to the results of the pitting operations, in such manner that the latch mechanisms will be tripped and the trap doors associated therewith, will fly open and expose an alternate discharge route to receive the unsuccessfully pitted fruit.

The pits, and the unsuccessfully pitted fruit, in the meantime are discarded in such manner as to preclude possibility of their becoming mixed with the successfully pitted fruit.

While I have disclosed preferred embodiments of my invention in great detail, it will become apparent that the invention is subject to various other modifications and embodiments without departing from the principle of operation involved, I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details disclosed, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims and the prior art.

I claimi 1. Fruit pitting machine comprising a fruit conveyor including a rotatable hollow sprocket having sprocket teeth and an opening through said sprocket between each pair of teeth, a conveyor chain encircling said sprocket and having individual resilient perforated bottom fruit carrying devices capable of meshing with said sprocket in alinement with said openings in the passage of said fruit carrying devices around said sprocket; pitting means mounted above said sprocket and adapted during pitting strokes to eject into said openings in said sprocket the pits from fruit carried thereto by said fruit carrying devices; a pair of alternative discharge routes for such fruit, and means controlled by the presence or absence of a pit in said openings for exposing one or the other of said discharge routes to such fruit as it is discharged from said machine.

2. Fruit pitting machine comprising a fruit conveyor including a rotatable hollow sprocket, having sprocket teeth and an opening throughsaid sprocket between each pair of teeth, a conveyor chain encircling said sprocket and having individual resilient perforated bottom fruit carrying devices capable of meshing with said sprocket in alinement with said openings in the passage of said fruit carrying devices around said sprocket; pitting m'eans reciprocally mounted above said sprocket and adapted during pitting strokes to eject into said openings in said sprocket the pits from fruit carried thereto by said fruit carrying devices; means resiliently bearing against the inner surface of said sprocket in line with the path of travel of said openings therein during rotation of said sprocket and capable of fully entering any of said openings in the absence of a pit therein during passage of said openings past said resilient means, but precluded from fully entering any such openings by the presence of a pit therein; a pair of alternative discharge routes for such fruit; and means including said resilient means for exposing one or the other of said discharge routes to the output of said maing devices capable of meshing with said sprocket in alinement with said openings in the passage of said fruit carrying devices around said sprocket; pitting means reciprocally mounted above said sprocket and adapted during pitting strokes to eject into said openings in said sprocket the pits from fruit carried thereto by said fruit carrying devices; means resiliently bearing against the inner surface of said sprocket in line with the path of travel of said openings therein during rotation of said sprocket and capable of fully entering any of said openings during passage of said openings by said resilient means in the absence of a pit in such openings, but precluded from. fully entering any such openings by the presence of a pit therein, a pair of alternative discharge routes for such fruit, means including said resilient means for exposing one or the other of said discharge routes to the output of said machine in accordance with the presence or absence of a pit in said openings, and means for ejecting such pits from said openings following the operation of said discharge route exposing means.

4. Fruit pitting machine comprising a fruit conveyor including a rotatable hollow sprocket having sprocket teeth and an opening through said sprocket between each pair of teeth, a stationary cylinder supported within said sprocket and concentrically therewith to provide a spaced bottom for said openings, a conveyor chain encircling said sprocket and having individual resilient perforated bottom fruit carrying devices capable of meshing with said sprocket in alinement with said openings in the passage of said fruit carrying devices around said sprocket; pitting means reciprocally mounted above said sprocket and adapted during pitting strokes to eject into said openings in said sprocket the pits from fruit carried thereto by said fruit carrying devices, a pinrality of rotatable discs mounted at the end of a lever aflixecl to a rotatable shaft within said stationary cylinder and enabling said discs to protrude through an opening in said stationary cylinder and bear against the inner surface of said sprocket in line with the path of travel of said openings therein during rotation of said sprocket, said discs being capable of entering any of said openings during passage of said openings past said discs in the absence of a pit in such openings, but precluded from entering any such openings by the presence of a pit therein, a pair of alternative discharge routes for such fruit. a trap door for selectively closing one of said alternative routes and exposing the other, latching means for normally-retaining said trap door in closed position with respect to one of said alternative routes, a trip member linked to said lever through said r0- tatable shaft and precluded from tripping said latching means by the presence of pits in said openings,'and means operable in the .absence of a pit in one of said openings following a pitting operation, forurging said trip member to a tripping position, thereby releasing said latching means and exposing the alternative discharge route. I

5. In a fruit pitting machine, an endless conveyor having a plurality of fruit receptacles carried thereby, means for successively pitting fruit loaded in said receptacles, a pair of alternate dis charge paths, one to receive fruit resulting from a successful pitting operation, the other to receive fruit resulting from an unsuccessful pitting operation, means for normally blocking one of said paths, said means being normally latched in such blocking position against a spring tending to shift said means to open the blocked passage and block the normally open passage, single means successively responsive to one of the results of such pitting operations to trip said latch and permit said spring to shift said blocking means for exposing the alternative path, and means for relatching said normally latched discharge path blockingmeans following each unlatching thereof.

6. In a fruit pitting machine, an endless conveyor having a plurality of fruit receptacles carried thereby, means for successively pitting fruit loaded in said receptacles, a pair of alternate discharge paths, one for properly pitted fruit and one for improperly pitted fruit, means for normally blocking one of said paths, said means being normally latched in such blocking position against a spring tending to shift said means to open the blocked passage and block the normally open passage, and single means successively responsive to one of the results of such pitting operations to trip said latch and permit said spring to shift said blocking means for exposing the alternative path to the passage of said successfully pitted fruit, said last means comprising an unstable element tending to move in a direction to cause tripping of said latch and restraining means for normally holding said element in its unstable position and releasing the same upon the occurrence of the pitting operation result to which the latch tripping means is responsive.

'7. In a fruit pitting machine, a conveyor member having a plurality of spaced fruit receptacles mounted thereon, a pit receiving member having a plurality of pit receiving recesses therein, means for providing relative movement of said members to cause successive registration of said fruit receptacles with said recesses, pitting means operating on each fruit in turn as registry occurs to deposit a pit from said fruit into the recess registered with the receptacle holding the fruit being operated on, a. pair of discharge paths for the fruit operated on by said pitting means, sorting means operable to direct fruit into either path, and single control means responsive to the presence or absence of a. pit in successive recesses and connected to operate said sorting means.

8 Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said single control means is positioned to suecessively enter each recess unless prevented by a pit therein, the diflerence in position of said control, means determining the direction of op eration of said sorting means.

9. In a fruit pitting machine, a conveyor member having a plurality of fruit receptacles carried thereby, a pit receiving member separate from said conveyor, means for providing relative movement of said members to successively register the fruit receptacles with said pit receiving member, pitting means operating on each successive fruit when said registry'has occurred to eject a pit therefrom into said pit receiving member, means for successively removing pits from said pit receiving member, means for sorting the fruit operated on by said pitting means -member, pitting means operatingon each successive fruit when said registry has occurred to eject a pit therefrom into said pit receiving member, means for successively removing pits from said pit receiving member, means for sorting the fruit operated on by said pitting means into two groups, control means positioned in accordance with the successive presence or absence of a pit in said pit receiving means, said sorting means being controlled by the position assumed by said control means. i

11. In a fruit pitting machine, pitting means adapted to enter one side of a fruit to eject the pit therefrom on the opposite side, an endless conveyor for presenting a succession of individual fruit to the action of said pitting means, pit holding means separate from said conveyor positioned to receive pits after ejection from said fruit by action of said pitting means, means for removing pits from said pit holding 'means in synchronism with the action of said pitting means, sorting meansfor the fruit acted on by said pitting means, and a single control mechanism responsive to the successive presence or absence of a pit in said pit holding means for controlling said sorting mechanism.

12. In a fruit pitting machine, pitting 'means, an endless conveyor for presenting a succession of individual fruit to the action of said pitting means, pit holding means separate from-said conveyor receiving each pit after ejection by said pitting means, means for removing pits from said pit holding means in synchronism with the action of said pitting means, sorting means for the fruit acted on by said pitting means, and a single control mechanism responsive to the successive presence or absence of a pit in said pit holding means for controlling said sorting means.

13. In a fruit pitting machine, a fruit.con-

veyor having a plurality of spaced fruit recep-I tacles thereon, a pit ejection member on one side of said conveyor, a pit receiving member separate from said conveyor on the other side of said conveyor, means for moving said fruit conveyor to successively position fruit in said receptacles between said members, means for reciprocating said pit ejection member through said fruit to normally eject the pit therefrom and deposit the ejected pit in said pit receiving member leaving said fruit in said receptacle, means for removing pits from said pit receiving member after deposit therein, single means successively responding to the presence or absence of a pit in said pit receiving member between the time of deposit in and removal therefrom, and fruit sorting. means operating in accordance with the response of said single means to separate pitted from unpitted fruit.

14. In a fruit pitting machine, a fruit conveyor, 2. separate pit conveyor on one side of said fruit conveyor, a pitting knife on the other side of said fruit conveyor, means for reciprocating said knife, means for moving said fruit conveyor to bring fruit on said fruit conveyor successively into and out of alinement with the path of said pitting her having a plurality of fruit receptacles carried thereby, a pit receiving member separate from said conveyor member, means for providing relative movement of said members to successively register the fruit receptacles with said pit receiving member, pitting means operating on each successive fruit when said registry has occurred to eject a pit therefrom into said pitreceiving member, means for successively removing pits from said pit receiving member, means for sorting the fruit operated on by said pitting means into two groups and means for removing pitsfrom said pit conveyor.

16. In a fruit pitting machine, a conveyor member having a plurality of fruit receptacles carried thereby, a pit receiving member separate from said conveyor member, means for providing relative movement of said members to successivelyregister the fruit receptacles with said pit receiving member, pitting means-operating on each successive .fruit when said registry has occurred to eject a pit therefrom into said pit receiving member, means for successively removing pits from said pit receiving member, means for sorting the fruit operated on by said pitting means.

into two groups and means for removing pits from said pit receiving member after said sorting means has operated.

17. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein the sorting means is operated while the next fruit is being conveyed to a position between said pit; receiving member and said pitting means.

18. In a fruit pitting machine, means for moving a succession of unpitted fruit through a pitting station, means for moving 'a pitting plunger through each fruit on arrival at that station to eject the pit therefrom, a pit receiving member positioned in the pit path and separated from said fruit moving means, means for withdrawing said plunger leaving each ejected pit in said pit receving means, means for successively removing pits-from said pit receiving member, means for successively sorting fruit operated on by said pitting plunger, and single means responsive to the successive presence or absence of a pit in said pit receiving member.

19. Fruit, pittingmachinecomprisingarotatinl hollow member having spaced openings therein,a conveyor encircling said member and having individual resilient perforated bottom fruit carrying devices capable of registering with said member in alinement with said openings during the passage of said fruit carrying devices around said member, pitting means mounted above said member and adapted during pitting strokes to eject into said openings in said member the pits from fruit carried thereto by said fruit carrying devices; a pair of alternate discharge routes for said fruit, and means controlled by the presence or absence of a pit in said openings for exposing one or the other of said discharge routes to such fruit as it is discharged from said machine.

20. Fruit pitting machine comprising a rotating hollow member having spaced openings therein, a conveyor encircling said member and having individual resilient perforated bottom fruit car ryingdevices capable of registering with said member in alinement with said openings during the passage of said fruit carrying devices around said member, pitting means mounted above said member and adapted during pitting strokes to eject into said openings in said member the pits from fruit carried thereto by said fruit carrying devices; a pair of alternate discharge routes for said fruit, means resiliently bearing against the inner surface of said member in line withthe path of said openings and precluded from fully entering any such openings bythe presence of a pit therein, a pair of discharge routes for said fruit, and means including said resilient means Y for exposing one or the other of said discharge routes to the output of said machine in accordance with the presence or absence of a pit in said openings.

21. In a fruit pitting machine, a fruit conveyor, 9. separate pit receiving member on one side of said fruit conveyor, a pitting knife on the other side of said fruit conveyor, means for reciprocating said knife, means for moving said fruit con- 7 

